The art of choosing – self-care

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This week, Charli Mills challenged the Carrot Ranch Literary Community to In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes self-care. Does the character need it? What does the character do? Think about how you can use this action to deepen a character or move a story. Go where the prompt leads. She talks about being easy on ourselves and taking time to celebrate our progress and avoid being shackled by the imposter syndrome that masquerades as our harshest critic.

Dr. Andrea Dinardo is also talking about self-care this week on her blog Thriving Under Pressure. Her post urges us to Work hard. Rest. Repeat, and recommends

“If you get tired, learn to rest not quit.”

Resting can be difficult when there is much we want to do and achieve, both personally and professionally; but sometimes, if we don’t rest by choice, we have it thrust upon us.

This week, when I’m already masquerading as an overposter, as a mini-rest, an exercise in self-care, and care for you too, I’m presenting my flash response without the padding of a post. Here it is. I hope you like it.

Rest. In. Peace.

“You really should take a break,” they suggested.

“I can’t. Too much to do.”

“You need time off,” they said.

“I know. Soon.”

…

Eventually, “I’m taking a break,” she said.

The afternoon sun warmed as the sand caressed her aching body. Her eyes closed. Only an occasional seagull’s squawk interrupted the repetitive swoo-oosh of the waves that jumbled with the office cacophony looping incessantly.

…

“What? What happened?” they asked.

He scrolled quickly, searching for details.

“Sleeping. On beach. Seagull – ha!– dropped a baby turtle – landed on her head – died instantly.”

“And we thought work would kill her!”

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25 thoughts on “The art of choosing – self-care”

    1. Norah Post author

      You’re very clever with mashing the prompts. One at a time is all I can do. 🙂
      She could have done with a helmet. Hopefully it won’t become mandatory anytime soon. 🙂

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  4. Pingback: Practicing Self-Care « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

    1. Norah Post author

      Thanks, Charli. I had fun getting to the 99 words. Then I took a break. 🙂 I wasn’t worried about the seagull after that. It had served (pun) it’s purpose – or turtle, if you’d rather. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. D. Avery @shiftnshake

    Seeking Aussie at Rest

    “Hey, Shorty, where’s Aussie at?”
    “Aussie’s out standing in her field.”
    “I know she’s outstanding in her field, Shorty, she’s a helluva educative wrangler. But where is she?”
    “Out standing in her field.”
    “I know… she’s highly sought after.”
    “Oh, she’s highly sot after a couple a ciders, but jist now she’s out standing. In her field.”
    “Dang, Shorty, I know all ready. Whyn’t you jes’ tell me where Aussie’s at?”
    “Easy, Kid, I am tryin’ to tell ya that she is in her field over yonder. Standing.”
    “Oh. Well shouldn’t we hep her in? ‘Afore she gits pasture-ized?”

    Got ya again! Hee hee, they followed you to your place. And I loved your flash though I hope the turtle is all right. And I am glad you took a break from one thing as you seem to be more busy than ever. I was clueless this week regarding self-care, and did not come up with a flash response. Though I did use the Sunday time I had been writing in and took myself kayaking, it’s been awhile. So I did self care rather than write about it. True story.

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    1. Norah Post author

      OMG! This is hilarious! I love it. Not only that, I am deeply touched (some already say that I am) and honoured to feature in one of your poems, right here on my blog! Kid sure gets around!
      I hope the turtle is all right, too. It didn’t have much of a choice though – eaten by a seagull or crushed on a skull.
      I’m pleased you took yourself kayaking and engaged in some real self-care – way to go!
      Thank you once again for your generous spirit. I can’t believe you’d write a poem about me. It is so wonderful to belong to this community. I usually am out standing in a field – on my own. It’s nice to meet up with people of like minds. 🙂

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  9. Steven

    I quite enjoyed the irony of the situation!

    I feel that with an aging population and the fact that people will need to work for longer in the future (putting off retirement or even forgoing it), we are probably heading towards a situation where it wouldn’t be uncommon for elderly people to die on the job. I would guess we are looking at an increase in this perhaps 30 years in the future. Of course it can and probably does happen now, but I think it will become more the norm down the track.

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    1. Norah Post author

      I have been told, but haven’t verified, that the retirement age of 65 was set when that was the age at which people often died. People would stop work and die shortly after, not requiring much of a pension. It’s a very different situation now. I heard the other day that 70 is the new 50. Does that mean we work until we are 85 (add 20)? It would definitely shorten the retirement years.
      Funny you say about dying on the job, though not for the person in question. A few years ago, when I was working in an office, we read a story about someone dying at his desk. No one noticed for a week, I think. He obviously didn’t interact much. We used to tell each other to check if we hadn’t moved or said anything for a little while. 🙂

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  11. Annecdotist

    You have indeed been busy with your posts this week and glad you’re taking a kind of rest. Great surreal flash and, eavesdropping on your reply to Geoff, fabulous that it’s borrowed from your grandson. It reminded me of a couple of doctors I’ve known who died shortly after retirement. Might be pure coincidence, but seemed especially sad after all their hard work.

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    1. Norah Post author

      Thanks, Geoff. Actually my grandson told me a similar story the other day. He told me it was true. Seems it’s about a philosopher. I asked him (GS) if I could use it in a story. He said of course. Actually, I meant to change it to a crab. 🙂 It’s surprising how many people die from things falling out of the sky. I Googled it. 🙂

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